MA in Individualized Studies, Transformative Learning Communities

Design Your Own Learning Journey

With a Focus on Learning, Community, Leadership, and Social Evolution

Antioch University’s MA in Individualized Studies, Social Sciences is proud to offer a concentration in Transformative Learning Communities, in partnership with the Transformative Learning Foundation. This program is centered on the understanding that we have the capacity to author our own lives from a place of resourcefulness, creativity, and possibility. This is the central insight that guides the Concentration in Transformative Learning Communities (TLC) – providing a learning environment where each learner can engage in their own process of self-authoring, within a self-renewing learning community of colleagues and faculty mentors.

This degree is offered by Antioch University Online

Program Overview

The TLC Concentration offers the opportunity for learning in community, acknowledging a tension between two learning paradigms: self-authored and nested in an intentional TL community. You experience inquiry-based learning within the power of conversation and connection with your mentors and community.

• 100% online learning through real-time Zoom classes with 24/7 access to classwork and resource for convenience
• Small class sizes
• Start in Spring, Summer, or Fall

This program can be a pathway to discovering the contribution you are called to make—to yourself, to your community, to humanity, to the planet.

• Create a portfolio that you can bring into your future
• Complete your degree in two years

Program Requirements

Start with six Foundations courses to learn about—and experience—transformative learning communities. In the third semester, you’ll work to create an individualized program that helps you achieve your personal and professional aspirations, and which will be vetted by professional scholars who serve as your Mentors.

Engage with faculty, staff, and other students during three required Colloquia, which will be offered once each trimester. The Colloquia will be held through video conference using Zoom, and will broadly elaborate upon the program’s three foundations – knowledge of the field, doing research in the field, and constructing an individualized program of study.  An important aspect of the Colloquia will focus on community building, and will include various speakers, introduce different faculty members, and discuss various readings in smaller disciplinary groups.

To graduate from the program, you’ll complete the following:

• Three Foundations courses (9 credits)
  • Foundations of the Social Sciences: Transformative Learning Communities (3 CR)
  • Social Research Methods: Transformative Learning Communities (3 CR)
  • Individualized Study in the Social Sciences: Transformative Learning Communities (3 CR)
• Three Field of Study seminars (9 credits)
  • Natural Learning Relationships
  • Epistemologies of Learning
  • Learning as a Living System
• Three Colloquia (0 credits)
• Four or five Individualized courses (four if thesis is chosen, five if capstone) (12-15 credits)
  • These can be taken from other fields, from other campuses, from the courses offered, or as Independent Studies.
• Capstone (3 credits) or Thesis (6-credits)
• Portfolio
• Total: 36 credits

Portfolio

The Master’s portfolio is used as a tool to gauge one’s learning over the course of one’s tenure at Antioch, and to use for professional presentations and applications. The portfolio also allows one to reflect on one’s progress while serving as a student at Antioch, and may serve as a useful collection to demonstrate what one has learned to outside agencies or graduate schools.  Portfolios are required for graduation. Learn more about portfolio requirements

Admissions

GO TO ADMISSIONS

Application information:

• Complete the Online Application (No Application fee!)
• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university or an institution recognized by regional accreditation. Official transcripts of all academic work.
  • Exceptions may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis using faculty’s professional judgment such as cases of international degree. Antioch Online will accept degrees earned under the terms of the Bologna Declaration.
• Two current professional references, at least one of which is from a University professor whom you have worked with and who has evaluated your academic work
• Admissions Essay:
  • Please provide a statement in 500 words or less as to why you would like to do an Individualized program, what you intend to accomplish in the program, and what qualifications you bring to accomplish that
• Please submit a writing sample of no more than 5 pages in length addressing your knowledge or interest in transformative learning communities
• No GMAT or GRE required
• Additional requirement for international students:
  • Reading & Writing in English Proficiency Assessment (if applicable) or TOEFL score of 550 “paper-based”, 214 “computer-based”, and 79 “internet-based or higher.

Technology Requirements

Students in this program participate in online learning activities organized within small- and large-group learning communities. Antioch University Online is a 100% online learning environment, and therefore, in addition to having the traditional learning skills, students are expected to have basic technological skills, compatible computer hardware, operating system, and internet connectivity upon entrance into the program.
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Cost

GO TO COSTS

Graduate Degree Tuition

ADDITIONAL TUITION & FEES INFO

Financial Aid

Many AU students finance their education through some form of financial aid. You may not be sure which federal, state, public and private aid packages – such as loans, scholarships, and grants—are right for you. Our staff is here to help you, so you can focus on what’s most important: beginning your academic program at AU.
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